Lionel Messi once again proved why he’s considered the greatest of all time as he led Inter Miami to a commanding 3-1 victory over Nashville SC in the first game of the MLS Eastern Conference playoffs. The Argentine superstar scored twice and assisted another goal, inspiring his team to a strong start in the best-of-three first-round series.
Before kickoff, Messi received the Golden Boot trophy, awarded to the league’s top scorer, from MLS Commissioner Don Garber in a pre-game ceremony. Moments later, he opened the scoring with a diving header in the 19th minute, giving Inter Miami an early lead. In the second half, Messi combined with Ian Fray to set up Tadeo Allende, who doubled the advantage with another header in the 62nd minute. Messi sealed the victory in stoppage time, calmly slotting home a rebound to make it 3-0 before Hany Mukhtar netted a late consolation goal for Nashville.
The win capped off a remarkable week for Inter Miami, coming just a day after the club announced Messi’s three-year contract extension, ensuring he will stay with the team into his early 40s. Garber praised Messi’s impact on American soccer, saying, “He’s changed the trajectory of Major League Soccer. Having him for three more years is truly a gift for the sport.”
Messi’s dominance this season continues as he scored 29 goals and provided 19 assists, coming just one goal contribution shy of breaking the MLS record set by Carlos Vela in 2019. His performances have fueled record ticket sales and skyrocketed Inter Miami’s valuation to over $1.2 billion since his arrival in mid-2023.
Game 2 of the series will be played in Nashville on November 1, with a potential Game 3 scheduled in Fort Lauderdale on November 8 if needed.